Final Four Free Parlay Picks
I am not a huge parlay guy but I have to admit the Final Four is probably the ultimate parlay opportunity provided you can find the right numbers.
I am not a huge parlay guy but I have to admit the Final Four is probably the ultimate parlay opportunity provided you can find the right numbers.
NCAA basketball Final Four action sees the Michigan State Spartans taking on the Duke Blue Devils in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cappers Picks provides free NCAA basketball handicapping tips all season long.
Besides undefeated Wichita State, which flamed out in the Big Dance 3rd round, the Florida Gators ended the season with the nation’s longest winning streak.
After bringing in arguably the greatest recruiting class ever and being named the top team in the country in the preseason AP poll, the expectations placed on the Kentucky Wildcats were high.
Even though the Huskies are not the highest seed left in the field (they are a #7 while Kentucky is a #8) it seems like everyone is looking at them like they are a cinderella story.
The Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the Final Four for the first time since 2000, on Saturday, and the only thing stands between them and their second NCAA Tournament title is Kentucky.
Both Louisville and Michigan have had impressive runs to the title game and overall the Cardinals have not lost since early February Louisville had to come back in their last game using their great pressure defense to come back to win by 4 points.
I know I am supposed to write about Louisville but I have to throw some love to the Wichita State Shockers here. They pushed the Cardinals more than anybody expected and could easily have won the game.
The Orange were very impressive last week in earning their spot in the Final Four. They put forth two fantastic defensive games holding Indiana and Marquette to an average of just 45 points.
There was a lot of talk this season about how there wasn’t a dominant team in the college game. Louisville is making us second guess all of that rhetoric.
Louisville is coming off a huge win over Duke in the Elite 8 and they have a huge lift for this game after one of their key bench players Kevin Ware was lost for the season with a terrible injury.
In a match up of a couple of #4 seeds Michigan faces Syracuse where the winner will head to the National Championship game. The Orange have played stellar D in their last 2 Big Dance games and they will be facing a great Michigan squad that has knocked off Kansas and Florida, who are a couple of top 10 teams, in advancing to the Final 4.
The field of 68 has been narrowed down to the final two teams. The Kansas Jayhawks will take on the Kentucky Wildcats Monday night in the Superdome. The winner will cut down the nets and be crowned 2012 NCAA Champions.
Well, don’t worry, you can still enjoy what’s left of March Madness with a couple of prop bets that you can consider if you’re still looking to get involved with NCAA Final Four betting this year.
These two games will offer up all kinds of bets and wagering opportunities, and one of a few options out there is who will win the 2012 Outstanding Player award.
At the top of the betting odds is Kentucky Wildcats freshman Anthony Davis (2/1) who is proving to be worthy of all the hype, averaging 14.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and leads Division I with 4.6 blocks per game.
Davis however, was injured when he collided with Baylor star Perry Jones III early in the second half of their game on Sunday, but did stay on the court, although holding his left knee and was obviously in pain. Will that carry into Saturday’s game against Louisville?
Of course, if the big center should feel the lingering effect of the injury it could seriously dent the Wildcat’s dream of capturing this year’s national championship. A must in his quest for winning MOP.
But let’s say even without a totally healthy Davis, Kentucky gets past Louisville.
Another player that could grab the honors, is also a Wildcat. Teammate and swingman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (5/1), who has also been playing possessed, scoring 13.5 PPG in four tournament games to go along with 29 total rebounds.
Following up the Wildcats’ duo is the Buckeye’s Jared Sullinger (6/1) and Deshaun Thomas (9/1).
The 6-foot-9, 265-pound Sullinger, who enters Saturday’s game averaging 17.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per outing, seems to be over his back problems and has routinely been putting up double-double performances night after night. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Thomas, meanwhile, seems to go all but unnoticed, but is quietly averaging just under 21 points through the first four games, including a 31-point, 12-rebound outburst against Loyola (MD) and a 24-point performance against Cincinnati in the Sweet 16.
Rounding out the top five is Kansas star Thomas Robinson (8/1), an All-American forward who had a big game against a very good North Carolina team, along with No. six-teammate Tyshawn Taylor (15/1), who seems to keep having great games throughout this year’s tournament.
Case in point, again the Jayhawks win over North Carolina in the Elite Eight, where Taylor went off for 22 points on 10-for-19 shooting, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Both of these players are good options that could pay sizeable payouts.
Prediction: It’s been established that Kentucky is the favorite to win the national title, so a safe wager on Davis or a gamble on Gilchrist should yield a decent return here.
NCAA Tournament Odds Most Outstanding Player Props
Anthony Davis (Kentucky) 2/1
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) 5/1
Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) 6/1
Thomas Robinson (Kansas) 8/1
DeShaun Thomas (Ohio State) 9/1
Doron Lamb (Kentucky) 15/1
Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas) 15/1
William Buford (Ohio State) 15/1
Peyton Siva (Louisville) 18/1
Gorgui Dieng (Louisville) 20/1
Marquis Teague (Kentucky) 20/1
Terrence Jones (Kentucky) 20/1
Kyle Kuric (Louisville) 25/1
Chane Behanan (Louisville) 35/1
This rivalry is played every year but rarely twice. Back in December, Louisville’s was a 10 point underdog so all their recent successes have done is earn themselves another point of respect.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were considered a top three or four team by almost everyone heading into the season. Through the year the team had some rough stretches and there were quite a few questions about the team’s toughness and chemistry, but they put it together at the right time.